ROOF SHINGLE REPAIR FAIRVIEW

Shingles are the most exposed part of your roofing. They’ll be the first to be damaged if severe weather rolls through (which happens often Fairview, TX). This is why you should take care of your shingles. If one is loosened, cracked, or worn, rely on roof shingle repair.

Roofing contractors will be able to repair any damaged shingles rather quickly. Depending on the extent of damage, you might even be able to complete the repair by yourself. Here’s what you need to know about repairing damaged asphalt shingle roofs:

Roofing Materials:

Work gloves

Hammer

Flat pry bar

Shingle nails

Replacement Shingles (must be same size and type)

None of the items mentioned above should be hard to find. A visit to your local hardware store will get you everything you need. While you’re there, speak to an employee about the specific roofing nails needed for an asphalt roof. However, you might have to go to your roofing contractor to get the exact shingles needed for replacement.

Once you have the materials you need, do the following…

Use safety precautions when climbing onto your roof. Use a sturdy ladder, gloves, shoes with proper grip, and remember to carry the tools needed up with you. Find the damaged shingle(s). You should only do so if your have steady footing on your roof. If you don’t feel safe, call a professional roofer for help.

Shingles are secured in place by eight nails and a roof cement seal. The goal is to remove the nails and sealant without damaging any surrounding shingles. Since shingles overlap, futher damage to shingles is possible during the proocess of repairing your roof shingles.

To remove the damaged shingle, you’ll have to place the pry bar under the edge of the shingle, then push down to force the shingle up. If the edge comes up, you’ve successfully broken the shingle’s seal.

***It’s easiest to do this during moderate weather. If it’s too hot outside, the seal can cause a mess as you try to break through. If it’s too cold outside, shingles become more fragile and can break if too much pressure is forced on them.

You’ll find a row of nails at the center of the shingle and the other four nails at the bottom of the shingle on top of the one you’re working on. The four at the bottom have been hammered through both shingles. Rather than tugging at them with the back of a hammer, you’ll need to push the nails up from the bottom, which you can do with the pry bar.

You should be careful so that the surrounding undamaged shingles don’t get torn or have any asphalt granules removed from it. Clawing near the nail heads risks damaging the unaffected shingle.

When the seal is broken and the nails are out of the way, go ahead and remove the old shingle and replace it with the new one.

Nail the new shingle down about a half inch past the old nail holes in order to create new, more sturdy ones. As long as you have the proper nails for the shingles, they should be hammered through the asphalt shingles relatively easily.

Lastly, re-apply the asphalt cement seal. You won’t have to use much, as it won’t take more than a few drops to fasten the new shingle in place.

Voila! Your damaged shingle has been removed and the new one is successfully in place!

If you aren’t sure whether you have shingle damage, here’s how you can determine it

Climb your roof on a sunny day. Find a shingle that is in direct sunlight. Try to bend one of its corners. If the corner breaks off instead of flexing, your roof is probably due for shingle repair.

You can also look for discolored shingles. Most times, you’ll be able to tell which ones are more worn down others. The amount of time your roof has been in place is also a hint at the condition of your roof. If it’s been in place for more than 20 years, you should schedule visit from a roofing company.

Sometimes you can look for shingle damage without even climbing onto your roof. Impacts of hailstones can wear away asphalt granules. When they’re detached, they’ll roll down the roof and end up in the gutters. If rain floods the granules out, you can probably find them at the base of your downspout.

These are all ways to figure out if you might have shingle problems. Of course, some signs are more obvious than others, like a visibly curled or discolored shingle where the underlying plywood is exposed.

Summit Roof Service

If you don’t feel comfortable executing a roof shingle repair by yourself, give Summit Roof a call! We’ll your damaged shingles repaired in no time. We’ll also inspect the rest of your roof to figure out if anything else needs to be done. Repairing a shingle on your own might save you some money, but it’s important to have a professional take a look at the roof in its entirety.